Capital Area Food Bank of Texas | Feedback | Winter 2012

OUR MISSION: TO NOURISH HUNGRY PEOPLE AND LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN ENDING HUNGER.

CAFB Board of Directors

message from the President & CEO

Matt Dow, Chairperson, Jackson Walker, L.L.P. Mark Downing, Vice Chairperson, Silicon Laboratories Melissa Mitchell, Treasurer, Ernst & Young Vanessa Downey-Little, Secretary, City of Austin, Retired Michael J. Tomsu, Immediate Past Chairperson, Vinson & Elkins Melissa Anthony, AnthonyBarnum Public Relations Heidi Baschnagel, National Instruments John Cyrier, Sabre Commercial, Inc. Ken Gladish, Ph.D., Seton Foundations Mohamed el-Hamdi, Ph.D., Samsung Austin Semiconductor Deborah Kerr, Ph.D., Consultant Joyce Mullen, Dell Sue Snyder, Jackson Walker, L.L.P. Paula Soileau, American Heart Association

There are two kinds of people in life; those who make things happen and those who let things happen to them.

Leaders make things happen.

feedback Winter 2012

In this incredible journey as the leader of the Food Bank, we nourish central Texans in need and will continue to do so, but there is a much higher aspiration. I want to create a situation where I put myself out of a job! That means I want to end hunger.

This is a tall order considering the broken food system that exists and dire economic circumstances all too many of our friends and neighbors now find themselves in. But what you do with the future is the difference between leaving a track record and leaving a legacy.

Sheldy Starkes, MBA, PMP, Booker, Starkes & Patodia, Inc. Leslie Sweet, H-E-B Catherine P. Thompson, Motion Computing Jason Thurman, PlainsCapital Bank

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Email: communications@austinfoodbank.org

Legacies aren’t just wishful thinking. They’re the result of determined doing. The legacy you leave is the life you lead. A legacy comes from the idea that everyone can make a difference. Legacies encompass the past, present and future, and they force us to consider where we have been, where we are now, who helped us get there, where we are going and how we can pay it forward. A quest to leave a lasting legacy is a journey to significance.

This Food Bank, as are many other advocates in our country, is working hard every day to leave a legacy to not only alleviate, but end hunger. Ending hunger is a legacy I strive for every day. Let’s make it happen and lead our community in ending hunger together.

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HANK PERRET

A Nourishing Legacy p2 . Public Policy Update p3 Thank You and Upcoming Events p4 & 5 . The Hansom Family: A Philanthropic Legacy p6 What’s Your Legacy? p7 . Message from the President & CEO p8

President & CEO

The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas 8201 S. Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78745

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(512) 282-2111

OUR MISSION: TO NOURISH HUNGRY PEOPLE AND LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN ENDING HUNGER.

Learn how you can help at austinfoodbank.org

A NOURISHING LEGACY The Food Bank opened its doors in 1981 and is leaving a powerful legacy in our community. As read in the inagural invitation: After thirteen months of planning, dreaming and scheming, the Capital Area Food Bank has become a reality.

The Food Bank began operations on June 1, working out of two locations. With rising food costs and reduced federal aid to the poor, the emergence of a food bank in Austin at this time is ideal. The Food Bank hopes to supplement the work being done by agencies all over our city to help feed the hungry.

PUBLIC POLICY Update

By Kathy Green, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy

The mission of Capital Area Food Bank is “to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger.” As a food bank, we see our role in Central Texas as two-fold—provide food, AND end hunger. The first is immediate; the second is long-term.

Hunger has existed as long as humankind. And, in past centuries, many accepted it as a natural, albeit unfortunate, phenomenon. Do we really believe we can actually eliminate it?

I would argue that to truly end hunger, we must give people the resources needed to prevent them from going hungry.

From a public policy perspective, this task intersects many aspects of food—those who grow it, those who sell it, and those who consume it. Over time, this chain has developed many broken links—to the point that our hunger situation literally “feeds” itself (pardon the pun). Healthy food is expensive to grow and distribute. In a lot of cases, it is also expensive to access and consume. Those without resources must go to great lengths to eat, much less eat well. And by “well,” I mean not at the cost of their health or other basic needs.

We had the privilege of interviewing one of the founding members, Parker Cross (pictured above). Here’s a few things he had to say about the start of the Food Bank:

Q: What was going on in Austin at that time, and what was the community’s reaction to the need for a food bank?

Austin was going through a great deal of social change—in the neighborhoods. We were still dealing with busing and desegregation issues. The need to address a social issue fit right in that environment. People were very receptive to the need to feed hungry people.

Q:

What were some of the biggest challenges in starting a food bank?

First, we were entirely voluntary. We didn’t have a staff or director. It was literally a bunch of us hauling around food in the back of our station wagons. We had no cash, no financial underwriting. Second, we had to find space.

We were tickled when we found a guy who had some warehouse space and a forklift he gave us to use. Then, the other challenge was getting recognition of what we were doing so that donations would come in.

Q:

So, tell me some things that happened in that first year.

I remember one of our first donations was a bunch of hams. The person donating them lived about 75 miles outside of Austin. So a bunch of us drove over in our station wagons with dry ice to pick up these hams. But, we were so happy to get them! And then I remember we got a big donation of misshapen potatoes. The dump truck dumped this big load—potatoes, dirt, and all, right in the middle of the parking lot. We spent several hours washing off potatoes so we could get them to our agencies.

It is no accident that in our lower-income neighborhoods, you find fewer grocery stores with healthy food. Food is a business, and retailers will locate where they can make a profit. Those of modest means, who may not have transportation to travel to a decent store with fresh produce choices or fewer processed items, are resigned to what’s nearby— inexpensive and unhealthy choices. If they can manage to get to a store with better, nutritious choices, what is healthy is often expensive. This is why hunger is largely a symptom of poverty.

By viewing food as something that should be sustainable, rather than simply consumed, we can provide our least fortunate with the tools to prevent hunger... a legacy that CAFB can leave behind.

Locally, Austin and Travis County are working to address these issues.

The Sustainable Food Policy Board is an appointed body charged with advising the city council and commissioner’s court regarding (in part) “the need to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally, and sustainably-grown food at reasonable prices for all residents, particularly those in need.” The board is looking at many facets of food access in Austin—from community agriculture to farmer’s markets to food stamp outreach and enrollment. How do we support those entities and issues so that all residents, regardless of means or location, can eat well?

I am proud to represent CAFB on this board, and determine how we can change the food landscape in our county. By viewing food as something that should be sustainable, rather than simply consumed, we can provide our least fortunate with the tools to prevent hunger. And that is one legacy that CAFB can leave behind.

For more information, and ways you can get involved, visit: austinfoodbank.org/how-to-help

cafb community events

Learn how you can help at austinfoodbank.org

For more on our events, follow us on Twitter: @events4good

Thank you to everyone who made these events successful!

join us

for these upcoming events: 2ND ANNUAL CHARITYBASH MASQUERADE BALL: WINTER WONDERLAND Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8PM-12AM The Mansion, 2312 San Gabriel Street Austin-based non-profit Citizen Generation really knows how to throw a party. Their legendary social events have been covered by Austin360’s A-list and Out & About, Tribeza, and other media outlets. This year’s CharityBash theme is Winter Wonderland and the proceeds from this event benefit the Food Bank. Tickets are available for $80 each or $150 per couple which includes open bar, food and entertainment at the Mansion. So, bring your fancy mask, your favorite black tie attire and your wallet to bid on some great auction items.

It will be a night to remember. To purchase tickets, visit: bit.ly/ CAFBball

Austin Empty Bowl Project Raised more than $62,000 for hungry Central Texans.

A Legacy of Giving Raised more than 43,100 pounds of food.

32ND ANNUAL CROP HUNGER WALK Saturday, March 3 & Sunday, March 4 Walter E. Long Park - 6614 Blue Bluff Road Saturday: 9:30 AM registration; 10 AM step-off Sunday: 1:45 PM registration; 2:30 PM step-off CROP Hunger Walk helps raise money for hunger-relief programs in Austin and around the world. Teams of neighbors, walkers, volunteers and sponsors with a passion to help end hunger and poverty put their hearts and soles in motion to make a difference. They walk because they want to end hunger - one step at a time. Won’t you join us? For more information visit: austinfoodbank.org/cropwalk

19TH ANNUAL AUSTIN REGGAE FESTIVAL Holiday Luminations Raised more than 6,900 pounds of food.

Temple Beth Shalom Food and Fund Drive Raised more than $6,000.

Legalzoom Bake Sale Food and Fund Drive

Raised more than $2,160.

Randalls Turkey Donation Donated 1,000 turkeys.

LEGACY GIFTS Photo courtesy KWillis Design

Photo courtesy GreenTee Photo

CANstruction Raised more than 24,100 pounds of food and $885.

Congregation Beth Israel Food & Fund Drive Raised $5,300 and 1,920 pounds of food.

Create a lasting gift to support and sustain the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas for future generations while maximizing your financial, tax and estate planning goals. There are many ways to make a legacy gift. Please visit:

Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22 Auditorium Shores – Riverside at South 1st Street Join thousands of reggae enthusiasts for this Texas-sized celebration of spring, bringing together world music, tasty food, arts & crafts, spectacular scenes and excellent peoplewatching in Austin! Hosted at one of the city’s most popular outdoor venues, this event also helps feed hungry Central Texans by benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: austinreggaefest. com

http://www.austinfoodbank.org/how-to-help/ legacy-giving.html For a complete list of upcoming events, visit austinfoodbank.org/events

Learn how you can help at austinfoodbank.org

The Hansom Family: A Philanthropic Legacy

By Kanaka Sathasivan, Communications Intern

For the Hansom family—Kerry, Chloe and Maddy— volunteering together is a great way to give back to the community. Kerry first became interested in helping at the Food Bank when she lived in Denver, working for AmeriCorps. She always enjoyed visiting the food bank there and planned to bring her children in to volunteer at the Food Bank when they were old enough.

She started volunteering with her oldest daughter, Chloe, last spring, but her younger daughter, Maddy, had to wait until she turned eight to volunteer. After Maddy’s birthday in the summer, she eagerly joined her sister and mother. Since then, they try to volunteer every month and are very passionate about the work they do. “I really like sorting stuff,” Maddy explained.

Chloe agreed: “It’s fun to volunteer here.”

In addition to sorting packaged goods in Product Recovery, they have also helped with watering and trimming the teaching garden, which they found a little more challenging. Kerry keeps up with the Food Bank newsletter as well. “I’m always interested to [find out] what’s the next event we can go to,” Kerry said. Most recently, they attended the Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll, an annual caroling and tree-lighting event that helps collect donations for the Food Bank. “It was a lot of fun.”

While they devote most of their volunteering time to the Food Bank, they are also constantly on the lookout for more opportunities, such as Blankets for Babies. However, Kerry admits it can be hard sometimes since her children are so young. She appreciates that the Food Bank has dedicated time set aside for families to volunteer together, and the shift is early enough in the evening that she can get the kids into bed on time. This year, the family hopes to continue volunteering on a monthly basis, especially by involving the new Girl Scout troop Maddy joined.

Ultimately, the best part of volunteering at the Food Bank for Kerry is helping her children. She says, “[We] realize there are people out there that are less fortunate than us. When we go to H-E-B or different Food Bank activities, we realize now what it’s for and how it works.” She hopes that by volunteering as a family, she can leave her children a legacy of community activism and impress upon them how important it is to help those in their community.

Chloe in particular has already recognized what a need there is for food in our world. After having learned about world hunger in school, she understands the difference she can make as a volunteer. For Food Bank recipients, “a lot of cans [means] a lot of meals.” She is especially struck by the fact that “just a little bit of a food can make a big change in a family.”

“I love [volunteering here]; it’s a lot of fun [and] a good experience for my children.”

For more information and ways you can help, visit austinfoodbank.org/how-to-help

LEGACY: [leg-uh-see] noun Something that is passed on to you from others.

What’s your legacy?

Advocate.

Help inform our elected officials about hunger in Central Texas and advocate for our neighbors at risk of hunger. Sign up for Action Alerts and you’ll receive timely information on legislation, as well as tips for how you can improve the lives of hungry Central Texans by connecting with your elected officials. Sign up: austinfoodbank.org/advocate

Donate.

The Food Bank can turn $1 into $5 worth of nurtritious food, and we make it easy to donate every day of the year. Please consider making a financial gift using the enclosed remit or donate online.

Donate: austinfoodbank.org/donate

Volunteer.

After the holidays, we have a tremendous amount of donated food that needs to be inspected, cleaned and sorted. We need extra help in February and March to prepare this food for distribution to our hungry friends and neighbors. Sign up: austinfoodbank.org/volunteer

The mission of the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger. For more information and ways you can help, visit austinfoodbank.org